Shaak smiles at her little charges, a small gaggle of giggling Initiates.
They stare up at her with little gap tooth smiles, whispering back and forth.
“Younglings.” She begins, suppressing a wider grin as they straighten up and take up the most serious expressions a youngling can manage. “Do you know what we’re doing today?”
A little human raises his hand, nearly jumping up and down with excitement and clinging to a shy Togruta.
“Yes?” She nods to him.
“We’re hunting!”
“That’s right, we’re going to hone our instincts and skills.” She shifts to sit cross-legged in front of her little class. “Do you know why we do this?”
More than one little Jedi pouts at the obvious indication they won’t be running wild through the gardens for some time yet.
“Cause we’re predators?” The shy little Togruta pipes up.
Shaak tips her head in acknowledgement. “That is one reason, some of us come from predatory species, it can be healthy to hone those instincts. Personally, I sometimes get restless if I haven’t stalked something in a long time. Another reason is skill, the ability to sneak through the bushes might save your lives one day.”
“Another is one I’m sure some of you have considered already…” She glances in amusement at the younglings that are distinctly not from strictly predatory species, the little human in particular turns pink and avoids her gaze. “It can be enjoyable to rise to such a challenge, learn something new.”
A small Zabrak nods, straightening up.
“As Jedi we are in control of ourselves. I do not allow my instincts to control me, just as I do not allow my emotions to control me.”
A few of them nod and Shaak continues.
“I feel them, they tell me how to jump and stalk and hunt, just as my emotions tell me of my sadness and joy and anger.”
A few more nod in understanding.
“When they tell me how easy it would be to hurt someone, that my friend would be an easy target? I don’t listen, they do not control me.”
She makes sure to meet each youngling’s eye. “Do you understand?”
“Yes, Master Ti!”
“You must be careful.”
“Yes, Master Ti.” They chorus.
Satisfied that the little ones are taking her seriously she smiles again.
“Alright, who wants to try to catch me?”
The little human glances at his companion, once she nods, he grins and raises a hand.
“Can we try Master Ti?”
“You’re welcome to.” Shaak smiles with all of her teeth, the little Togruta shyly bares her teeth back.
She guides the rest of her little class to a position above the garden they’re using with the best view and leaves them with her assisting padawan.
“You win if either of you touch me, take care not to hurt anyone, including yourselves.” She pauses, “I will give you a hint.” Shaak leans down to meet the Togruta’s gaze. “You are not a Raxshir young one. You are not instincts and hunger and…” She turns her attention pointedly to the bouncing human Initiate. “You are not alone.”
She nods, clutching nervously at her Initiate’s robes.
Shaak presses a gentle hand to the top of their heads.
“May the Force be with you.”
“And you, Master Ti.”
She nods and walks into the garden, leaving them to plan their approach.
Shaak searches for her place, the place in the garden where she will be hidden.
She finds it in the center of rolling plains, her montrals stick out high above the long grasses, a beacon for her little hunters.
She sinks into a light meditation, she doesn’t seek help from the Force, only her instincts.
She hears the grasses swish, too loud to be a breeze and springs into action, leaping back.
The Initiate after her misses her by more than a lightsaber length and falls on his face, Shaak’s sudden movement throwing him off and forcing him to move before he was ready.
“Remember Initiate, your prey is not unaware of its situation.”
He scowls and wipes the dirt from his face, giving up all pretense of stealth to chase after his target.
Shaak indulges him, always slightly out of reach and listening for his companion.
She is not surprised the bold little human is the one chasing her but she hopes her advice was heeded, at least enough he did not leave his friend behind in his excitement.
There is a shift in the space above her, something living, something moving.
Shaak smiles and pauses just long enough for the little predator hiding in the canopy to pounce.
“Ashla! You got her!” The little human squeals. “I knew you could do it!”
Shaak helps the little Togruta disentangle herself from her place clinging to Shaak’s shoulders.
“Well done, little hunter.” She bows to her opponents.
“Saylind helped,” Ashla mumbles midbow.
“You both did well in remembering my advice.” Shaak concedes. “Initiate Donels plays an excellent distraction and you did well taking advantage of it. You did not act alone.”
They both nod, slightly flush with victory.
“Now, shall we return and see who wants to try next?”
“Yes, Master Ti.”
Shaak guides her little hunters back to the rest of their class, something warm in her heart.